Adjustable frame and sheath



(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. MARSH. ADJUSTABLE FRAME AND SHEATH.

No 452,867. Patented May 26,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. R MARSH ADJUSTABLE FRAME AND SHEATH.

Patented May 26, 1891.

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WITNESSES.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.v

RIVERIUS MARSH, OF NINV BRUNSWICK, NElV JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME AND SHEATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,867, dated May 26, 1891.

Application filed June 21, 1890. serial No. 856,311. (No model.)

To coZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RIVERIUS MARSH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Brunswick, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Frames and Sheaths, of which the following is speci fication.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of a T-shaped sheet-metal sheath for making three connections with the molding of the frame. Fig. 2 shows a corner-sheath of sheet metal for making two connections; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the innerside of a corner sheath constructed of castmetal. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing manner of securing the curvededge molding-strip to the backing or structure by means of a com mon wood-screw; Fig. 5, a perspective view, partly in section, of the same screwed to the backing by means of a bolt and nut, Fig. 6, a sectional view of the backing and molding or frame with the screws respectively attached and the mirror or picture held between the backing and the edge of the molding which forms the frame; Fig.7, a sectional view of a molding with its outer limb inturned to hold the backing; Fig. 8, a section of a different form of molding for the same purpose; Fig. 9, a sectional view of a molding having a re-enforcing-stri p therein, which also forms the backing for the frame, picture, mirror, or tile; Fig. 10, a sectional view of a molding with its inner limb curved and inturned to hold the backing; Figs. 11 and 12, sectional views of molding having re-enforcing strips therein, which also serve to hold the backing; Fig. 13, a modification of Fig. 9, and Fig. 14 a sectional view showing the various features employed together.

Theobject of my invention is to construct a cheap, easily-manufactured, and durable picture-frame or adjustable molding or border for mirrors, tiles, wood-work, 850., made in sectional parts, having new and simple methods of combination and attachment fo thepurpose of saving time, labor, and cost of shipment.

Said improvement consists in making corner-sheaths or connecting-pieceseither of sheet or cast metal, and in forming molding of suitable size and shape as to be readily placed within said sheaths, and when placed therein will fit snugly and maintain themselves in position. Heretofore metal frames have been connected with solder or by means of bolts or brazing and strengthened by a11- gles or other metallic supports, while the corner-seams or the connection of sectional parts have been covered or held in position bybolts, brazing, or solder, while wood frames have been connectedwith nails, glue, or screws.

By means of this invention the old method of connecting and securing frames may be dispensed with or made more secure by the use of my improved sheath-connecting pieces. lVhile all metal frames may be made stronger and of less material by curving them inward at right angles, I make said sheaths preferably of sheet metal, although for some frames I use castings, the edges of the sheaths and the moldings being curved inwardly into the form of a scroll to form ledges or restingplaces for the heads of the screws for holding the pictures or mirrors in the frames and fastening the frame or molding to the structure or wall. I also further construct the frames and sheaths so that they have menforcing strips or pieces to strengthen them, and in addition thereto construct them with combination metallic backs which are adapted to be sheathed into the borders or frames on the rear side, thereby making a cheap, durable, and easily-constructed frame useful in its application for any and all purposes.

Thus, as shownin Fig. l, A represents a view of the inner side of a T-shaped sheath or connecting-piece having the inturned scroll-edges B B on the main limb and on the right-angled extension or limb C. The frame pieces or moldings D have their edges similarly scrolled; but these pieces are so formed as to slide within the sheath A, as shown. More than two sections of a frame may thus be formed in sheet metal, as shown in this figure, or the sheath may be made of cast metal E, as represented in Fig. 5. In like manner the corner-piece F, Fig. 2, is made of sheet metal with the edges scrolled, or the same may be cast, stamped, or pressed, so as to form scrolls or overhanging edges on the inner side for the purpose of holding the molding-strips D and to provide ledges for the screw-heads, as will hereinafter be more fully shown.

WVhen the molding-strips D are placed in the sheaths and properly located, they may be held in position by either crimping the edges, as shown at G, Fig. 1, or by turning up the corner or corners of the molding D, as shown at II, so thatit binds against the scroll B, by which means I avoid the use of screws or clamps.

The molding and sheaths herein shown are applicable not only for the purposes of frames for pictures, but also for ornamental edgings on frames for tiles, mantels, walls, ceilings, &c., in which case the moldings and sheaths are secured to a wooden or other base. This I do by means of screws, as shown at I, Fig. 4.,and at J, Fig. 5. In the former case the screw I is first driven into the base K in the proper position with the head of the screw projecting a suitable distance and the molding afterward slipped on these heads. Where a bolt is used, as shown in Fig. 5, the frame may be put together before it is applied to the base K and the bolt-heads placed in the molding, after which the frame is applied to the base and the nuts .I adjusted and tightened. This latter manner is preferable, as the frame can be tightly secured; but the form shown in Fig. 4 is more generally applicable, because for walls, ceilings, 850., there is no opportunity foradjusting the nut L behind the case K.

In Fig. 6 I show an application for the molding and sheaths to a frame having a base, so as to hold a mirror and suitable backing. Thus K is the base, M the mirror, and N the backing behind the mirror. The bolt J is of course applicable instead of the screw I in this figure, if desired. The illustration shows the relations of the various parts, although it is obvious that many modifications can be made of the same.

In order to be able to use the simple molding and the sheaths for picture-frames, &c., some means should be employed for holding the mirror or picture and the backing to the molding. I accomplish this by having the molding constructed with a return or S- shaped inner edge 0, as shown in Fig. 3. This, while it slides into the sheath in the same manner as shown in the other figures, has an edge which holds the mirror M and backing N without necessitating the use of screws, nails, or clamps of any character, the frame being held in position by crimping, as at G, Fig. 1, or by turning over the corner, as at H, Fig. 1.

The foregoing description illustrates the application of the adjustable frames and sheaths to uses where plain frames are required winiout any special backing, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or where the molding itself is provided with a ledge or wing of some character which adapts it to receive a backing, as shown in Fig. 3, or for attaching the plain frames, Figs.

1 and 2, to some wooden or other base, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In many instances,l.owever, and for numerous purposes the fiat forms of frames shown in the foregoing illustrations are not desirable, and it is necessary to make the molding so that it projects beyond the face of the picture, mirror, or tile, so as to add beauty and effect.

I find in practice that to construct molding with, say, four ribs on the face and two or three on the sides, as shown in Fig. 7, makes it necessary that I should use heavier metal, or some support must be given to it to keep it in shape. As the molding is generally made of brass and is expensive, therefore I have devised several means to remedy this. One means is to construct a metal strip bent'longitudinally in proper shape to slide in the molding. This is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, in which P represents the strip with a returnbend Q, the lower end of which rests on the inturned edge of the molding, while the other edge of the strip has a right-angled bend R, that is designed to receive the backing N and the mirror or picture. In Fig. 12 the strip P hassimply one bend R for the backing. In these illustrations the strips P and backing N are independent of each other; but a still more extend ed and universally applicable use can be made of these re-enforcing pieces by having the backing and re-enforcing strips or edges made in one, as shown in Figs. 9 and 13. The metallic backing S has its edges turned up at right angles, as shown at T, with a return portion U, which is of sufficient width to slide snugly into the molding.

Fig. 10 shows the same application of the ledge on the inner limb of the molding as ICC has been described in Fig. 3, and Figs. 7 and 8 show the reverse manner of inturning a ledge by making it a portion of the outer limb of the molding. In all these forms the corner or connecting sheath is employed, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 14 represents the application of the different forms in the same structure. Thus V represents a mirror or picture, W W rows of tiling, and X open-work ornamentation or decoration of any kind. The moldings a and b are of the same type, held together by means of a metallic sheathing c, which also forms the back. Each edge of this backing chas a'curved or scroll edge cl, which passes around the corresponding edge of the molding, and when the ornamental piece X is placed in the grooves between the ribs of the molding the whole is held in the proper relative position. The metal backing cbehindone of the rows of the tiling represents one type of the combined backing and re-enforcing edge (referred to in Figs. 9 and 13) as the molding b is sheathed over the right-angled portion f of the backing c. The backing g shows astill further amplification of the combination, in which the backing itself has the molding iformed in one edge, or, rather, it has its upturned edges so formed as to serve the purposes of a molding and at the same time to hold the mirror, picture, or tile behind it, and its outer faces may then be suitably onamented.

It is obvious that many modifications may be made; but these features are herein somewhat amplified in order to fully exemplify the spirit of the invention and to point out its merits.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination of the sectional sheetmetal molding having both edges curved downwardly or scrolled, in combination with screws, the heads thereof being within the body of the molding between the scrolls, the wooden base to receive the screw and to which the molding is secured, and the glass or picture and backing, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The sheet-metal sheath having clownwardly-curved edges, in combination with sectional sheet-metal moldings having curved edges of similar construction, and the mirrors and pictures and backing, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A sheet-metal molding for frames, having downturned or scrolled edges, as shown, one of the scrolled edges being inturned to form a ledge or rest for the backing, substantially as herein set forth.

4:. A moldingfor frames,havin g downturned or scrolled edges, one edge of said scrolled edges being provided with an inturned ledge for the backing of the frame, in combination with re-enforcing strips sheathed within said scrolled molding, substantially as herein set forth.

5. A molding forframes,having downturned or scrolled edges, in combination with re-enforcing strips sheathed within said molding,

said strips having inturned ledges for holding the backing, substantially as herein set forth.

. 6. A molding for frames, having downturned or scrolled edges, in combination with a sheetmetal backing provided with upturned edges suitably bent and over which the molding is sheathed, and the tiling-'W between the backingand the scrolled edges of the molding, substantially as herein set forth.

7. A molding for frames, having scrolled edges, as shown, one edge of which is inturned to form a ledge or rest for the backing, in combination with corner and connecting sheaths, and the tiling or mirror between the backing and molding, substantially as herein set forth.

8. A molding for frames, having scrolled edges, as shown, one edge of which is provided with an inturned ledge for the backing of the frame, in combination with re-enforcing strips sheathed within said scrolled molding, the corner and connecting sheaths, and the tiling, mirror, or picture between the backing and the scrolled molding, substantially as herein set forth.

9. A molding for frames, having scrolled edges, as shown, in combination with a metallic backing provided With upturned edges suitably bent and over which the molding is sheathed, the corner and connecting sheaths, and the tile mirror, or picture between the backing and the scrolled edges, substantially as herein setforth.

Signed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1800.

RIVERIUS MARSH.

In presence of- J. S. ZERBE, I. S. ELKINs. 

